Monday, February 22, 2010

Erin's Baby Shower

Great Grandma Douglas wrapping the favors
The two Great Grandmas stuffing napkins

Eo Erin enjoying the good food


Mom, Auntie Mary Joan and Auntie Diane and that's not what I called them in Italian



The food table




Becky, Kennedy, Capri and Erin





Erin opening gifts






The Shower Cake

Erin's baby shower yesterday was so much fun! I am so grateful and appreciate all the beautiful baby things she received for my new grandson, Markie. Thank you!
It was truly a moment that took my breath away!!!
I am so blessed to have experienced this moment and can't wait for the day I hold my sweet grandson.
Love,
Debbie






Erin

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

What's Been Going On

Mia
The New Slider Door

The New Living Room Window

The New Kitchen Room (My Favorite)

This is our launch area on Clear Lake

Front Row Trailers on the Lawn Area

Lake Front View with our dock area

The dock area with picnic table to sit and have morning coffee and watch the sun come up!
Awesome!!!!!



Lots of things have been going on. I got my results last week and my light chain count went up to 106. Now that's not a big jump from 102. Doctor thinks maybe I have hit a plateau. We are going to wait another month and see what the results are then. He's thinking either taking me off the Decadron and Velcade for awhile and see how it goes or trying some new treatments. We will have to wait and see.


I was so busy this past weekend at the trailer. Scott put in the last 4 windows, Rob did the trim around the windows and lots of honey dos for me and Mark was busy painting the outside. It was so crazy. Enjoy the pictures above. I love spending time there and I wish you could enjoy it too!
This weekend I'm having Erin's baby shower. I'm so excited. I just went tonight to buy all the decorations. I really bought great things to decorate with. I hope she will be happy. She called today to say how excited she is and looking forward to spending time with everyone. Tomorrow I will go to Costco and buy the food. Auntie Mary is making chicken picata and I will make the ravioli lasagna with Cesar salad. I ordered a fruit basket cake with real whip cream topping. On Saturday we will try again to see little Markie in 3D. Hopefully, he will cooperate and show his face. If all goes well I will have pictures to share too. Only 7 more weeks till her due date and it feels like 7 years. I can't wait to hold him for the first time. What a moment that will be. Definitely a moment that will take my breath away.
I will take pictures at the baby shower and share them next week on the blog.
Tomorrow I will be at Stanford meeting with the bone marrow doctor. I have important tests coming up soon, bone marrow biopsy in June and I know she wants to discuss the stem cell transplant. I think the results I have experienced so far, numbers falling from 341 in February to 106 last month is the result of the stem cell transplant. I will share her thoughts after my appointment tomorrow.
Have a wonderful week and weekend.
Love,
Debbie

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Life Below 100

So you are wondering what I mean by that. Tomorrow I will hear the results of lambha light chain count for this month. My hope is finally it will be below 100! That will be a moment that will definitely take my breath away!

I have been feeling pretty good lately. My personal trainer, Tim is really happy with my progress so far. Its been just a few months since I started back working out with weights. My progress is going well. I started at 80 pounds on the leg press and today I am up to 265 pounds. It feels so good to be working out again. I started riding my bike doing interval training for about 20 minutes. It sure gets my new heart pumping. I'm going to try and do the interval training 4 times a week, weight training once and twice a week every other week and walk in between. I believe it is important to exercise regularly. Everyone should do something for at least 30 minutes a day. Walk, ride a bike, swim - get out and move. I don't think I could have made a quick recovery after the heart transplant if I wasn't exercising before.

Mark, Scott, Rob and Jeff went to the trailer on Monday and installed 4 new windows and a new slider. I can't wait to see the new windows this weekend. Saturday they will put the rest in. Mark said it is much quieter inside with the new windows. It looks like a new trailer.

Next Sunday I'm giving Erin her first baby shower. I can't wait! She is in her 31st week and little Markie is getting bigger. She said his kicks are getting stronger and more frequent. I can't wait to see his little face, hold him and give him so much love. What a moment that will be.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to spend time with all three of my sons. It was so much fun. They really opened up and talk to me about things they did while growing up. It was so funny to see Matt and Max fighting with each other over stupid things. They talked about times when they did things that even I didn't know about. Wow was that a shock! All in fun but I didn't know about it. I'm just so happy that they are so close to each other even now.

In two weeks, I get to go to Vegas with my sister Mary to celebrate her 50th birthday. We are staying at Belligio and having dinner at Prime. Saturday night we will see the show "Love". How much fun will that be? LOTS!

I will post tomorrow my results from the light chain count. Have a wonderful week.

Remember: Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the number of moments that take your breath away! Go out and make those moments!

Love,
Debbie

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Can't Think of a Title for This Post

Isn't that funny but my mine is completely blank and I can't think of a title for this post. I have a lot going on these days.

The month of February is really busy. This weekend on Saturday night is our son Mark's second annual Beer Bong tournament. He has about 30 people coming over to play. This should be interesting. Last year it went on until 3 in the morning. I won't be playing but its nice to see all the boys and girls Markie played hockey with. Funny they are not boys and girls anymore but men and women, some are married and having children. Time goes by so fast.

Sunday is Super Bowl and of course we are having a Super Bowl party in the bar. Every year it gets alittle bigger and Mark has several football pools going. It's so fun! Last year I wasn't able to go out because it was so close to my heart transplant and I didn't want to get sick. Of course I ended up getting pneumonia anyway. This year I'm doing great and I will just be careful not to be near anyone sick.

The next few weekends I have parties to go to and I am giving Erin her first baby shower on February 21st. It will be so much fun. I have over 50 coming. No games played at the shower. She hates games and so do I. We are just going to eat, visit with everyone and enjoy the moment.

The following weekend on February 26th my sister Mary and I will fly to VEGAS!!! Wow I can't wait. We are staying at the Belligio and seeing the show "LOVE" set to the Beetle music. I am going to take her to dinner at Prime for her 50th birthday on Saturday. I'm sure there will be moments that take my breath away. She is my little sister and I can't believe she will turn 50. Time goes by fast!

Time goes by fast. Don't waste it on things that stress you. Enjoy each moment we have on this earth with the ones you love. Remember the quote. I have this in my trailer on my wall.
Life is not measured by the breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away!
Live by this message. I try to everyday.

Next week is my off week for chemo. I will take my blood test for light chain count on Wednesday and hopefully by Friday I will have the results. I'm hoping and praying for the count to be below 100. How exciting will that be to finally break the 100 mark. I will let everyone know once I have the reading. I am so blessed to have the results so far.

My friend, Yolanda is currently at Stanford undergoing her stem cell transplant. My prayers are with her. I think about her each day because I know where she is at each point of the stem cell transplant. I know this week is going to be tuff but the results are worth it. I'm finally seeing results I think from the stem cell transplant. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Also, this year I celebrate one year since I have met and develop a loving relationship with my donor family. Evelyn, Ben, Ashanti, Angelina and Jessika have shown me so much love. They are a big part of my family. We will always share our love and support for each other. I'm excited because they are coming to visit on Sunday for Super Bowl. I miss them!

Have a wonderful week and weekend. Hopefully, I don't forget to take pictures. I cleaned out my pictures from my camera this weekend so I could take pictures when I went to the trailer. I forgot to take one picture. The lake was beautiful with snow on the mountains and I forgot to take a picture. Bad girl. I need to change that!

Love,
Debbie